Tanner Pfeuffer eclipsed 6,000 yards passing in a distinguished three-year career as Bethel Park’s starting quarterback.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pound senior completed 156 of 260 tosses for 2,656 yards and 31 touchdowns in 2024, giving him 6,044 yards and 66 TDs in his career.
“I am super happy what our team was able to do this year,” Pfeuffer said. “We faced a ton of adversity, but we stayed connected as a team the whole time. And that alone is something special to be a part of.
“I’m also happy with the varsity career I personally had, but I’m very thankful to have been a part of such a great program the last four years.”
Pfeuffer put on a brilliant passing display against South Fayette in his team’s final home game of the regular season. He completed his first 12 passes on his way to hitting 16 of 28 attempts for 261 yards, four touchdowns and a rushing score in the first two quarters.
Pfeuffer connected on 359 of 665 career passes and has been offered scholarships by Clarion, Frostburg State, Seton Hill, West Liberty, Rio Grande, Grove City and Hampden-Sydney.
Bethel Park, coached by Phil Peckich, finished third in the Class 5A Allegheny Six Conference this season. The Black Hawks started out with seven consecutive wins and ended up 10-3 overall.
Bethel Park defeated Latrobe, 42-7, and Woodland Hills, 49-22, in its first two WPIAL playoff games before losing a 28-7 decision to Pine-Richland in the semifinal round.
The Black Hawks wrapped up the year as the top offensive team in 5A thanks to a 528-213 cumulative scoring difference, averaging 40.6 points per game while allowing 16.3.
But Pfeuffer wasn’t a one-man show for the Black Hawks in 2024.
Senior running back JaVaughn Moore proved to be prolific in the rushing department, rambling for 2,084 yards and 27 touchdowns on 285 attempts. Moore averaged 7.3 yards per carry and 173.7 yards per game.
He rushed for more than 200 yards in a game four times in ‘24 including a 280-yard, three-TD performance on 37 carries against Woodland Hils. He also ran for 201 yards and five scores on 25 attempts versus Trinity in Week 4.
One of Bethel Park’s season highlights was a 45-36 conference win Sept. 27 against Moon.
Moore picked up 202 yards and two TDs on 31 carries and also had a receiving touchdown. Pfeuffer scored what proved to be the winning touchdown with just four seconds remaining in the game.
“The way that (Moore) runs is very unique,” Pekich said. “I think our line did a great job along with our tight ends and fullbacks too. That’s the special thing about this group: There are no selfish players.
“We are a balanced team, and we can find different ways to win football games. We knew once we got in conference play that we would need to have a 1-0 mentality each week.”
Pfeuffer ended up completing 20 of 29 passes for 331 yards and three touchdowns against Moon.
Of course, Pfeuffer and Moore would not have enjoyed the success they had without solid blocking up front.
Bethel Park’s starters on the offensive line were junior tackle Santino LaMolinare (6-4, 255), sophomore guard Ryan Bergia (6-0, 275), senior center Hunter Goelz (6-0, 235), sophomore guard Nate Purcell (5-11, 250), senior tackle Frank O’Mara (6-4, 245) and senior Clancy Orie (6-4, 255) at tight end.
No fewer than 10 players reeled in passes in ‘24, led by senior wideouts Mitchell Paschl and Jack Bruckner with 39 and 28 receptions.
Others making their presence felt in the team’s deep receiving corps included senior athlete Ryan Petras, Moore, Orie, sophomore WR Santino Nowozeniuk, junior TE Jovian Smith, senior FB Randy Bergia, junior RB David Dennison and sophomore WR Braden Bruckner.
“I feel like we had a great year and had much improvement from the previous year,” Orie said. “Even though our season ended sooner than we would’ve liked, I think we accomplished a lot of our goals and competed at a very high level.
“I think I’ve had a pretty successful career at Bethel Park. I had great coaches that I think really helped me to play my best football, along with teammates that pushed me every day. Most importantly, I hope my time at Bethel has had a lasting impact on the underclassmen.”
Bethel Park racked up 6,407 offensive yards this season, or almost 500 yards per game, while surrendering 3,033 yards, or 233 per game.
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Moore led the squad in scoring with 32 touchdowns and 196 points. Next in line was Paschl with 11 TDs and 74 points.
Petras had 40 points while Pfeuffer and senior kicker Jackson Friday added 36 apiece.
Other point-producers for the Black Hawks included Jack Bruckner (24 points), Dennison (22), Orie (18), sophomore K Luke Yimin (15) and Nowozeniuk (12). Smith, senior kicker Max LeMessurier, Randy Bergia, sophomore running back Tyler Mille and Braden Bruckner all reached the end zone one time. Luke Rubican, a junior kicker, rounded out the scoring via an extra point.
The Black Hawks’ defensive front was anchored by Orie, junior Bryan McGuire, Smith, senior Denzel Meyers and sophomore Ryan Bergia, bolstered by a strong linebacking corps spearheaded by juniors Kahanu’ola Kuewa, Tim Ondo and Charlie Simmons, seniors Christian Davis and Randy Bergia and Brady Bruckner.
The secondary, another team strength, included the likes of Jack Bruckner, sophomore Will Sabatos, Paschl, Dennison and Nowozeniuk.
Jack Bruckner led in interceptions with four; Kuewa and Paschl chipped in with three apiece. Paschl picked off two passes against Baldwin.